What is a Fistula?

I realised that in Edna's story a medical disease, known as a fistula, was mentioned. But...unless we really know what this is, we wouldn't understand the pain women go through.

Fistulas can occur in various areas of the human body, however the branch which relates to the women in third-world countries is called a Obstetric Fistula. The occurrence of this variety is most common in Africa and Southern Asia.


So what happens when a woman develops a Fistula?


It is quite simple, you lose the ability to control your urine and faeces.


To be honest, I don't want to go into the complicated terms, but I don't think it is possible without.


Two quick terms:
1. Vesico-vaginal fistula (“VVF”) is a hole that develops between the vagina and the bladder.
2. Recto-vaginal fistula (“RVF”) is a hole that develops between the vagina and the rectum.


Both VVF and RVF are caused by prolonged obstructed labour when a woman is unable to deliver her baby safely and does not have access to an emergency cesarean. 


Unfortunately the baby almost always dies, and the mother is left leaking urine and/or faeces (through the vagina). It is also common for women to experience a condition called 'foot drop' where they cannot walk due to nerve damage of the lower limbs. Although these physical consequences are devastating, the  toll on their social reputation is catastrophic. Their husbands file for a divorce or with much less hassle abandon them.


Imagine being sentenced the the lonely hut on the outskirts of the village. Your friends and family avoid you because the smell is so unbearable. You eat alone, sleep alone and live alone. These women are in complete isolation. It is impossible to understand what these women must feel.


So now you know what a Fistula is. Millions of women experience this agony, and for the majority of time they too die along with their baby. Yes, there are welfare groups and hospitals that will openly take care of these women, it is often dependent on the family to take the women to one of these. 


I believe that setting up these organisations who provide help is very important. However, unless the family believes that the woman is worthy they will not look for places where they can treat her. This is where we come into play. 


AWARENESS!!!


We need to voice what these women feel. Until they can stand for themselves we need to do it. The men are not bad, they just don't know any different.